Brussels (dpa) – The European Union is preparing a fresh round of sanctions against Syria, following failed attempts at the weekend to pass a critical resolution in the United Nations Security Council, diplomats in Brussels said Monday. The measures were being discussed ahead of the next meeting of EU foreign ministers on February 27, sources said. No details were given about the content of the new sanctions. France and Britain have already publicly said that they would push for the EU to adopt more restrictive measures against the regime of President Bashar al-Assad. In response to an opposition crackdown which started in March, the EU has already included dozens of Syrian officials – including al-Assad – in a visa ban and asset freeze list, and imposed arms and oil sector embargoes on the country. After the UN resolution was vetoed by Russia and China on Saturday, EU Foreign Policy Chief Catherine Ashton called on Assad to end the violence, withdraw the army “and step aside in order to make room for a peaceful transition for the sake of his country.” BM ShortURL: http://goo.gl/xzR1e Tags: Damascus, EU, sanctions Section: Europe, Latest News, Syria
